Method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels

ABSTRACT

A method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels includes a forging step for forging an initial billet, a lathe machining step for forming the initial billet into a first treated billet, a rolling step for forming a second treated billet by rolling at least one labeling indentation on the first treated billet, a heat treatment step for reinforcing a structure strength of the second treated billet, a dyeing step for obtaining a third treated billet by dyeing a surface of each labeling indentation on the second treated billet with a dyestuff, a polishing step for forming a fourth treated billet by polishing the third treated billet, and an electroplating step for electroplating on the fourth treated billet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a workpiece with colored identification labels.

2. Description of Related Art

In industry, many kinds of hand tools or workpieces are used for repairing or assembling. The hand tools or workpieces have different sizes and shapes. Therefore, it is important that a user can easily and quickly identify a tool which the user really wants. The conventional methods for forming the identification labels are commonly applied a laser engraving technique. However, the cost of operating the laser engraving is relatively high and the process of the laser engraving is complicated. The notches made by the laser engraving are not colored, such that the notches will easily become unobvious after the hand tool and the workpiece are used for a long time.

A conventional socket set with identification labels is used different colored bands which are arranged on the sockets for recognition. But the sockets have so many types or sizes. It is difficult for the user to remember the arrangement of the colored bands indicates which size or type of the socket.

Moreover, another conventional socket with size-identified label includes a marking indentation which is formed on the socket by rolling. But the socket is not applied any heat treatment or dyeing process. The structure strength of the socket is not strong enough. And the outer periphery of the socket is difficulty dyed without heat treatment.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional methods for manufacturing a tool with identification labels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels.

To achieve the objective, the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention comprises a casting step for forging an initial billet from a raw material, a lathe machining step for forming the initial billet into a first treated billet which adapts to have a shape of semi-finished workpiece by cutting and shaping, a rolling step for producing a second treated billet by rolling at least one labeling indentation on an outer periphery of the first treated billet, and a heat treatment step for heating the second treated billet to reinforce a structure strength of the second treated billet.

Sequentially, a dyeing step is provided for obtaining a third treated billet by partially dyeing an outer periphery of the second treated billet with a dyestuff, wherein a dyed outer periphery of the third treated billet comprises a surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation.

A polishing step is provided for forming a fourth treated billet by polishing an outer periphery of the third treated billet, wherein the dyestuff adhered on the dyed outer periphery of the third treatment except for the surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation would be eliminated. In this step, a vibration machining technique is applied to polish the outer periphery of the third treated billet. Finally, an electroplating step is provided for obtaining a finished workpiece by electroplating on the fourth treated billet. Accordingly, the finished workpiece has labels to be easily and clearly identified.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a raw material which is used in the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an initial billet which is formed in a casting step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first treated billet which is formed in a lathe machining step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second treated billet which is formed in a rolling step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ in FIG. 5 of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third treated billet which is formed in a dyeing step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 a is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line BB′ in FIG. 6 of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth treated billet which is formed in a polishing step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 a is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along line CC′ in FIG. 7 of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a finished workpiece which is formed in an electroplating step of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 9-10 respectively show perspective views of a second and a third embodiment of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-8, a method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps as follows:

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, a casting step (a) is provided for forging or punch pressing an initial billet (11) from a raw material (10). In this embodiment, the raw material (10) is steel or aluminum.

As shown in FIG. 4, a lathe machining step (b) is provided for forming the initial billet (11) into a first treated billet (12) which has a shape of a semi-finished workpiece by cutting and shaping on a lathe (not shown). In this embodiment, the semi-finished workpiece is a wrench.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5 a, a rolling step (c) is provided for producing a second treated billet (14) by rolling or embossing at least one labeling indentation (13) on an outer periphery of the first treated billet (12). The at least one labeling indentation (13) can be formed into a shape of a FIG. 131), a character (132), or a pattern (133).

A heat treatment step (d) is provided for heating the second treated billet (14) to reinforce a structure strength of the second treated billet (14). In this step, the greasy dirt (not shown) on an outer periphery of the second treated billet (14) is removed, such that the outer periphery of the second treated billet (14) will be dyed easily in next step.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6 a, a dyeing step (e) is provided for obtaining a third treated billet (15) by partially dyeing the outer periphery of the second treated billet (14) with a dyestuff (151). And a dyed outer periphery of the third treated billet (15) comprises a surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation (13).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 7 a, a polishing step (f) for forming a fourth treated billet (16) by polishing and smoothing an outer periphery of the third treated billet (15). A vibration machining technique is applied in the step for polishing the outer periphery of the third treated billet (15). The dyestuff (151) which is adhered on the dyed outer periphery of the third treated billet (15) except for the surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation (13) would be eliminated. Therefore, a dyed surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation (13) is colored and easily identified.

As shown in FIG. 8, an electroplating step (g) is provided for obtaining a finished workpiece (17) which is a wrench in this embodiment by electroplating on the fourth treated billet (16).

Accordingly, the finished workpiece (17) has at least one dyed labeling indentations (13) for easily identifying.

With reference to FIGS. 9-10, those respectively show a second and a third embodiment of the method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels in accordance with the present invention. The elements and effects of the second embodiment which are the same with the first embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. In the second embodiment, the method is applied to manufacture a tool bit (18) with colored and identified labeling indentations (13′). In the third embodiment, the method is applied to manufacture a socket (19) with colored and identified labeling indentations (13″).

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A method for manufacturing a workpiece with labels comprising: a. a forging step for forging an initial billet from a raw material; b. a lathe machining step for forming the initial billet into a first treated billet adapting to have a shape of a semi-finished workpiece by cutting and shaping; c. a rolling step for producing a second treated billet by rolling at least one labeling indentation on an outer periphery of the first treated billet; d. a heat treatment step for heating the second treated billet to reinforce a structure strength of the second treated billet, wherein greasy dirt on an outer periphery of the second treated billet is removed, such that the second treated billet is easily dyed in next step; e. a dyeing step for obtaining a third treated billet by partially dyeing an outer periphery of the second treated billet with a dyestuff, wherein a dyed outer periphery of the third treated billet comprises a surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation; f. a polishing step for forming a fourth treated billet by polishing an outer periphery of the third treated billet, wherein a vibration machining technique is applied in the polishing step, and the dyestuff adhered on the dyed outer periphery of the third treated billet except for the surface of each of the at least one labeling indentation would be eliminated; and g. an electroplating step for obtaining a finished workpiece by electroplating on the fourth treated billet.
 2. (canceled) 